Promoting Transformative Practices for Sustainability in Early Childhood Education and Care : Cultivating Critical, Participatory and Emancipatory Approaches

Offering a fresh perspective on sustainability in the realm of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), Promoting Transformative Practices for Sustainability in Early Childhood Education and Care invites educators, policymakers and researchers to rethink how young children's engagement with sustainability extends beyond nature experiences, promoting a richer, multi-dimensional understanding.

This unique book provides a wider understanding of the relationship between early childhood education and sustainability through a multi-faceted picture of the political, economic, social, cultural and natural dimensions embedded in sustainable policies and practices. Aligning with UNESCO’s vision of sustainability, this book recognises the interdependencies between these dimensions, emphasising the importance of addressing intergenerational equity and social justice, especially for children to be prepared for and thrive in a rapidly evolving world. This book is structured in two main sections – the first explores innovative methodologies like sensory ethnography, constructivist Grounded Theory and critical participatory action research, while offering frameworks for effective education for sustainability (ECEfS); the second part evaluates recent ECEfS projects, focusing on promoting children’s rights, agency and well-being, and highlights how shared leadership and advocacy can drive sustainable futures in ECEC settings.

By combining research-based insights with practical examples, this book is a valuable resource for educators seeking to implement transformative practices in ECEC. Its focus on empowering educators and fostering child-centred advocacy makes it an essential read for those committed to building a sustainable future through early education.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.

Fabio Dovigo is a Professor in the Department of Human Sciences at L’Aquila University, Italy.

Şule Alıcı is an Associate Professor in the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Department at Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Turkey.